Introduction
Facebook imposes restrictions on contests to ensure they are fair, lawful, and in line with platform policies. This document clarifies these requirements and restrictions while suggesting compliant alternatives where possible. For complete details, refer to the official Policies for Pages, Groups, and Events and Facebook Developer Terms.
Requirements for Running Contests on Facebook
Every contest on Facebook must adhere to the following requirements:
1. Official Rules
Clearly state the rules governing the contest.
2. Offer Terms and Eligibility Requirements
Specify criteria such as age, residency restrictions, and other conditions for participation.
3. Compliance with Applicable Laws
Ensure your contest complies with all applicable laws, including those related to prize registration, approvals, and taxation.
4. Promotions on Facebook Must Also Include:
-
A Release of Facebook:
Each entrant or participant must release Facebook from liability. -
Acknowledgment of Non-Sponsorship:
Include a statement that Facebook is not sponsoring, endorsing, administering, or associated with the promotion.
Tip: Legal terms, rules, and releases can be lengthy. Use a pop-up triggered by an Action Widget or place them in a container that can be easily shown or hidden to improve user experience.
Restrictions on Contests
Certain practices are prohibited on Facebook when running contests. Below are the restrictions and suggested alternatives:
1. Requiring Users to Share to Enter
Facebook prohibits contests requiring participants to share content or tag others to enter or win. According to Facebook’s Policies for Pages, Groups, and Events:
"Your promotion must not require or incentivize participants to share, repost, tag others, or otherwise publicize your promotion."
Alternative Suggestion:
- Use a form with the Refer-a-Friend feature in the Form Designer.
- Display the form using a Form Container and Field Widgets.
- After a user submits an entry, encourage them to refer friends to the contest. For each friend who enters through their referral, the user earns extra chances to win.
2. Requiring Users to "Like" Pages to Enter
You cannot require users to "Like" a Facebook page as a condition to enter a contest. This practice, known as "incentivizing" a Like, is prohibited under Meta's App Verification Details:
"Only incentivize a person to log into your app or enter a promotion. Don’t incentivize other actions."
3. Redirecting Users
Contests that primarily aim to redirect participants to another website are not allowed. Meta's App Verification Details specify:
"Don’t build an app whose primary purpose is to redirect people off of Facebook."